No noticeable change in numbers for fishing opener

Trout was popular target in Shawano, Oconto counties
By: 
Morgan Rode
Sports Editor

Even with concerns over the coronavirus and guidelines in place, the Wisconsin fishing season opened over the weekend and brought out a similar number of anglers in the area compared to past years.

Clark Delzer and Jacob Cross, wardens in Shawano County, noted that the trout waters were a popular destination over the first two days of the season, while more open bodies of water had less anglers because of windy conditions.

“There was a good number of trout anglers out in the western half of the county, fishing on the Embarrass River,” said Cross. “There was a good number of people out on Saturday. There was a little bit of a dropoff on Sunday as usual, but there were still good numbers out. There were several fish being caught and seemed to be a good time had by all.”

“Shawano Lake gets super, super rough when we have anything over like a 9 mile-per-hour wind, and it was well over that on Saturday and Sunday,” said Delzer. “We had fantastic weather temperature and sun-wise, but that wind definitely kept some people off Shawano Lake I would say.”

Delzer said some of the bays and channels were being targeted instead, not only because they offered some shelter from the wind, but also because of the crappie spawn going on.

Oconto County Warden Paul Hartrick said that there was a good turnout of anglers in Oconto Falls and on the Machickanee Flowage, even though the number of fish being reeled in wasn’t too high.

“It’s slow fishing right now in the Oconto County area, but there were a lot of trout fishermen out too, so I know that people were catching trout,” Hartrick said. “The farther north you go, there’s more trout streams and I think a lot of people are taking advantage the trout fishing on the Oconto River and in other parts of the state.”

Hartrick also mentioned that the high winds led to less boats and people fishing some of the county lakes.

With Shawano County being a popular travel area for anglers, the number of individuals and boats out on any given day going forward will most likely be from the area instead of from across Wisconsin or other states.

“I’m thinking that once these restrictions get lifted, we’ll see more of that tourist activity coming up,” said Delzer.

Fishing closer to home is also a phrase that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources urged to anglers before the opener.

As far as how the wardens were going about their job with restrictions in place, they said it didn’t change much from years past, aside from keeping a respectable distance from anglers.

“It’s business as usual,” said Cross. “We’re still out being vigilant and patrolling, and ensuring that the natural resources are protected.”

sports@newmedia-wi.com

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